These items of remembrance were collected during the Houshamadyan workshop held in Athens on November 30, 2019. This page was produced in collaboration with the Athens periodical Armenika and the Hamazkayin Union.
Even though each of the micro-histories presented in the Open Digital Archive are unique, many bear traces of the collective destiny that befell the Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire; namely deportation, the murder of relatives, survival, exile, and a new life in places outside the homeland.
When Souzana Apartian introduced herself to a Houshamadyan staffer in Athens, it was evident that her family history also carried all of these collective signatures. Even so, it was different, and this difference became apparent when we first saw what "memory" items Susan had brought with her.
There was something big and wide in her handbag that naturally caught our attention. When the item was taken out of the bag, it was still impossible to guess what it was; that unidentified wooden device more reminiscent of a giant turtle.
Souzana would go on to tell us her family’s story, that began in Cilicia, in the city of Sis (present-day Kozan) and the nearby town of Kars Bazar (now Kadirli).
The object she brought to the workshop was a wooden mold that once belonged to her uncle Krikor Apartian (1898-1964). The mold was used to fashion the oud, a string musical instrument. Krikor Apartian was a carpenter-builder in Sis. We know that he used to make ouds, but he also assisted in building bridges.
Wooden mold to make ouds. 41 centimeters in length. Krikor Apartian brought this with him from Sis to Greece.
Krikor’s father was Artin and his mother Soultan. They had five children: Krikor, Aris (Souzana’s father), Lousadzin, Marie/Mariam and Haygouhie. Bedros, Artin's father, had another son, Minas, and a daughter, Varvar. Soultan had five sisters and her father's name was Asadour.
The age difference between Aris and Krikor was some twenty years. Aris was born in 1919 and Krikor was born in Sis in 1898.
After leaving Cilicia, Apartian family members first settled in Greece in 1922. They first lived on the island of Mytilene/Mitilini, and shortly afterwards went to Kokkinia, Piraeus.
Krikor began working with Mourtzinos, the most famous guitar maker in Athens. He mastered the secrets of the craft and in a short time became a renowned guitar maker on his own. The mold brought from Sis really wasn’t used much, simply because the oud wasn’t a popular instrument in Greece. Krikor thus turned to guitar and mandolin making. He opened a store in Piraeus, first on Alipedou Street, later 13 Retsina.
Krikor would affix his label in the soundhole of the guitars and mandolins he made. Early on, in addition to French and Greek used in the label, Krikor would also hand write something in Armenian.
Soultan Apartian. The photo was taken before she settled in Greece. Thus, it was probably taken in Sis or Adana
Krikor Apartian
Preserved are Armenian label texts from the 1920s which read: "Krikor Apartian, Piraeus, Cilicia, Sis." We also know that Krikor Apartian was a member of the Board of the Sis Compatriotic Union of Kokkinia in the 1930s.
Krikor’s sisters, Lousadzin, Mariam and Haygouhie, and brother Aris, worked with their brother in Krikor’s workshop. We know that the sisters also made mandolins.
Immediately after World War II, Lousadzin and Haygouhie migrated to Argentina, and Mariam immigrated to Soviet Armenia in 1945-1947.
Krikor died in 1964. Susan's father, Aris, who died in 2003, took over the musical instrument workshop.
To this day, the guitars bearing the name “Krikor Apartian” are widely respected in Greece.
First label used for Krikor’s guitars. It was affixed to the soundhole. Early on, in addition to French and Greek, Krikor would also hand write something in Armenian. Here, in Armenian, we read, "Krikor Apartian, Piraeus, Cilicia, Sis."
Guitar and mandolin handcrafted by Krikor Apartian
Souzana says that after her father's death, she wanted to better understand and experience the daily life and inner world of her guitar-making family. She especially wanted to know why her father never taught the craft to his daughter and son.
Thus, Souzana decided to make a guitar herself. It was a challenge. After gaining the necessary knowledge, she began work in 2014.
It took a year, but she built the guitar. Souzana notes that it took her father one month to fashion a similar guitar. Her guitar was rated satisfactory for a first try by the experts. Souzana says that a year's worth of work was enough to convince her that making a guitar is task that requires seclusion. "For one year, it was me and the wood; all alone…” she says.
Satenig (born 1932) was the wife of Aris and Souzana’s mother. Satenig’s parents (Yesayi Karamanian -born 1894- and Arousyag Karamanian) were from Kars Bazar. Yesayi’s father, Hovhannes/Ohannes/Ohan Karamanian, and his mother, Gyulenia Karamanian (née Dombourian), were married in 1894. In 1921, they immigrated from Cilicia to Izmir and then moved to Greece in 1922. Yesayi and Arousyag had four children - Hagop, Panos, Satenig/Dirouhie and Marie.
Guitars and mandolins with Krikor Apartian’s brand label and photo.
The label of Krikor Apartian’s store.
Apartian family photo affixed to their migration document. Rear row (from left): Lousadzin, Mariam, Soultan, Krikor, Artin. Front row (from left): Aris, Haygouhie.
Krikor Apartian. Migration papers (in Greek) for the Apartian family. Prepared in the name of Harutiun (Artin) Apartian- Piraeus, Kokkinia, 1922. The periodic government monetary assistance given the family is also noted. Harutiun is listed as a baker, 65 years-old, a native of Cilicia.
Aris Apartian’s 1933 school diploma from the Kokkinia Armenian school. The document has an Armenian and Greek version. Aris is fourteen here. He has the “best” grades. Sis is listed as his birthplace. His father’s name is listed as Harutiun.
Krikor Apartian (man standing), Aris Apartian (man kneeling). Names of the others unknown.
Aris Apartian
Aris Apartian busy in his workshop.
Aris Apartian (left) in his workshop.
The Apartian and Karamanian families – Athens, 1961. They are celebrating the birthday of Souzana’s brother Arto Apartian (1956-2010). From left: Satenig Apartian (née Karamanian); Aris Karamanian; Krikor Karamanian; standing in front of Aris and Krikor is a neighbor girl (name unknown); Arto (the boy standing directly in front of Krikor); Krikor’s wife (name unknown); Yeghia Karamanian, Arousyag Karamanian.
Board of the Sis Compatriotic Union of Kokkinia, 1938. Seated (from left): A. Geokdjian, Krikor Apartian, K. Pekmezdjian. Standing (from left): Dikran Khachigian, Bedros Asrlian, H. Bligian, Aram Mouradian.
Karamanian Family Photos and Documents
Yesayi Karamanian and Arousyag Karamanian with their son Hagop. (Smyrna, 1922).
Driver License of Yesayi Karamanian’s (Susanna's maternal grandfather) written in three languages: French, Armenian and Ottoman-Turkish. The license was granted by the French authorities who occupied Cilicia from 1919 to 1921.
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1. Receipt dated September 20, 1920 certifying that Ohannes Karamanian purchased a horse from the Hadjin Compatriotic Union of Adana. It bears the organization’s stamp. 2. Another travel permit: This one is in Ottoman Turkish given to Hovhannes Karamanian to travel to Djeyhan.
Yesayi Karamanian’s I.D. document (in French and Ottoman Turkish) affirming that he’s served in the Adana gendarmerie since July 1, 1920. This was during the French occupation of Cilicia. The paper is signed by Captain Ahmed Bey, Commander of the Adana Police Force. Ohannes is listed as the name of Yesayi’s father.
I.D. card, dated April 4, 1921, given to Yesayi Karamanian by the Adana Armenian Diocese. In French, the paper states that Yesayi’s occupation is that of a mechanic (mécanicien). This document was most likely to be used by Yesayi to travel to Izmir, given that it’s noted here that he is to travel to Izmir accompanied by his wife Arousyag. It bears the stamp of Bishop Yeghishe Garoyian.
An I.D. card, dated October 8, 1920, given to Loutfik Karamanian (16 years-old, born in Adana) by the Adana Armenian Diocese. Loutfik was the brother of Yesayi Karamanian. The document is in French and was most likely to be used by Loutfik to travel to Alexandretta/Iskenderun, given that it notes he is to travel there. It bears the stamp of Bishop Kevork Arslanian.
Karamanian Family: Athens, 1926-1927. Seated (from left): Yesayi Karamanian; Hagop Karamanian (boy holding a stick). Names of the others unknown. Standing (from left): Arousyag Karamanian (Yesayi’s wife); Vergine Kiurdoghlanian; Artin Kiurdoghlanian. Names of the others unknown.
I.D. document, dated June 24, 1922, given to Yesayi Karamanian by the Thessaloniki/Saloniki Holy Mother of God Church’s Parish Council. The document certifies that Yesayi is an Armenian refugee who has arrived in Thessaloniki.
I.D., dated 1925, given to Yesayi Karamanian by the Armenian Refugee Union. It certifies that Yesayi is a destitute refugee. His age is listed as 35. Father’s name, Ohan, mother’s name, Gyulenia.
A 1921 French laisser-passer given to Hovhannes Karamanian by the Cilician French authorities allowing him to travel to the town of Djeyhan (west of Adana). Hovhannes is the father of Yesayi.
Yesayi Karamanian’s 1945 membership card to the Antiquities Union of Greece.
Satenig Karamanian’s 1946 diploma from the AGBU Armenian school in the Athens Dourgouti neighborhood.
During WWII, when the Nazis captured Greece, Yesayi Karamanian, like many Greek men, was arrested and taken to Germany for forced labor. This is a document, prepared immediately after the war, allowing Yesayi to return to Greece.
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1. A 1944 document in Greek given to Arousyag Karamanian by the Athens Union of Nazi War Captives. We know that during WWII, Yesayi Karamanian (Arousyag’s husband) was taken captive and sent to Germany for forced labor. Arousyag was a member of this organization. 2. This August 14, 1945 document, in French and English, verifies that Yesayi Karamanian and his clothes had been dusted with DDT powder that year to protect against fleas.
1946 graduates, teachers and administration of the Armenian school in Athens Fix neighborhood. Satenig Karamanian should also be in the photo.
A document given Yesayi Karamanian by the Greek Red Cross certifying that he was held as a prisoner in Germany during the war and that he returned to Greece on September 2, 1945.